$avvy
As requested, a few helpful practices as finances get/are tight I've found over the last few seasons
*Leave credit AND debit cards at home. Follow the plan, nay impulse. (For groceries, I sometimes take the debit with a specific list of items, and guessed prices so the total is not a surprise...)
*Get more cash less times, yet as needed AND pre-determined
*Plan ahead what cash you'll need for the day (or week even), checking with your calendar, etc. Many menus can be pulled up online, or a review of it sharing a sense of how spendy a joint is(n't)
*Put monthly/periodic bills on (a free) auto-pay system; use that extra time to watch a dvd, sleep, call a college pal, or stare at the wall!
**Plot out meals & groceries (& dining out) weekly. Then prepare lunches, snacks, etc. at home maybe one evening for the week; take them to work. It's better for your wealth AND health!
**Pick fewer items and/or dollars for entertainment and extras; the yields will be better and more meaningful
***Make coffee at home/work, choose a nice bean, sugar, (veg!) creamer, flavor, etc. - much cheaper than Scarbucks, and more eco ;-)
Budgeting, and planning specific purchases, payments, etc. makes a BIG difference to it all. Funny how I like this type of planning/plotting too ;-)